Church Update:
Our church service begins at 10:30 AM and Sunday School begins at 9:15 AM. Worship services will be filmed and live-streamed on Facebook.
Welcome to Zion’s Evangelical Lutheran Church of Perry Township.
We hope that you find this site to be helpful in learning about our church, activities, and committees. Visitors and new members alike are always welcome at Zion’s Evangelical Lutheran Church.
Sunday Services – 10:30 am
Sunday School – 9:15 am
(No Summer Sunday School June – Aug)
Zion’s Evangelical Lutheran Church
Where there’s always something exciting happening.
Letter from Pastor Stephanie:
“Return to the Lord, your God, for he is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love” Joel 2:13
During our Lenten journey we were called to return to the Lord. We focused on examining our lives and finding was to refocus our lives on living as God calls us to – in the image of Christ. We were reminded to “let our light shine” and every day find ways to help our neighbors in need.
The darkness of Winter has faded. As the light of spring has burst forth, we see signs of new life all around us. We are reminded that Easter brings us new life in the resurrection of Jesus Christ and the promise of forgiveness and eternal life. May we continue doing what we have focused on during Lent sharing the light of Christ with our neighbors.
East is the direction to which people for ages have looked for the sunrise. In times of darkness heads craned look for the first rays of light, knowing that light will come in fullness, hours after those first rays. The hope a new dawn brings can change mourning to morning.
Advent is also a season of waiting, preparation. God’s people wait for the Savior. Will they receive the kind of savior they want or the kind of savior they need? Many claim to be the Messiah. But, only one is the true Messiah. Who will recognize the sonrise when it does come?
Shadows were always around Jesus as he ministered and taught. Light casts shadows everywhere. Christ’s light, being the brightest of all, seemed to cast the darkest shadows. Some of the Romans and many of the Jewish leaders always seemed to be lurking in the background, in the shadows, waiting to strike.
Torment in its ultimate form was suffered by Jesus upon the cross for our sins and our sakes. Worse than the physical torture was the perceived lack of the presence of God the Father while Christ hung upon the pieces of wood designed for shame and death.
Ebony was the darkness of the night. The disciples and followers knew Jesus was dead. They wept and cowered in fear, believing their hope had been ground into ashes. They should have known that these ashes were those from where the ultimate Phoenix would emerge.
Resurrection can come in our darkest hours when God lifts us from pain to triumph. During our darkness comes to us the opportunity to walk in newness of life, to see in a new light. Sin, evil and the tomb have been overcome by a greater force from the Greatest Source!
And as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them,
“Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen.” Luke 24:5
Christ is Risen. He is risen indeed! Alleluia!
Easter blessings,
Pastor Stephanie
“EASTER” adapted from Rev. Dr. Karl R Herman